Heating apparatus



May 31, 1932. 1. c. JENNINGS 1,360,936

' HEATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1929 5 Sheets$heet 1 INVEN TOR ATTORNEYJ y 1932- I. c. JENNINGS 1,8605930 HEATING APPARATUS Filed May17. 19 29 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR BY W LZZW,

May 31, 1932.

|. c. JENNINGS 1,860,930

HEATING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR ATTORNEYJ Patented May 31, 1932 UNrrEn STAT-ES IRVING G. JENNINGS, OFSOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT 4 HEATING APPARATUS Application filed May 17,

The object of this invention is to improve vacuum steamheatingapparatus, and particularly the vacuum steam heating apparatusillustrated in Letters Patent reissuedto me June 26,1923, No. 15,637. I

This vacuum steam heating apparatus consists in its main elements of aseparating tank to which the returns fromthe steam heating system areled, an air or gas pump for exhausting the air or gas therefrom and thusestablishing and maintaining the vacuum 1n the return side of theheating system, and a pump for returning the water of condensation tothe boiler. l

The air or gas pump which is employed consists of a rotor havingperipheral displacement chambers running in an eccentric or ellipticalcasing and employing water for its pumping action. It is desirable inpractice to return the water of condensation to the boiler as hot as ispossible so as to conserve the heat. The hotter the waterof'condensation and the higher the vacuum, the i more vapor that isassociated withit. This vapor has to be removed from the heating systemas well as the air. the air pump is reduced by the amount of vapor'to behandled. v 1

In the apparatus previously referred to, a

in the airor gaspump. I do this preferably byreturning the water thrownoutby the air pump directly to theair or' gas pump itself and by coolingthis water as it returns to the pump. Byth'is arrangement, the waterinthe pumponly will be cooled and a considerableportion of the vapororsteam coming back with the returns from the heating sys- I term will becondensed, while at the same time the-water of condensationin theseparating tank will be maintained at its high temperature and the heattherein utilized as the same is pumped back to the,boiler.

To inject cold water into the whole heating The capacity of separator isprovidedin the discharge of 1929. Serial No. 363,923.

system would require a considerable amount of water, much of which wouldhave to be wasted, and would reduce the temperature of the water whichis returned to the boiler. By injecting cool waterinto the lobe of the'55 air or gas pump, but verydittle additional water need be used andpractically all of the water of condensation in the separating tank canbe returned to the boiler at a high temperature. Such an arrangementprevents the air pump from having its eficiency reduced when handlingvery hot returns and enables a higher vacuum to be obtained or a smallerpump to be used. A I The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingthree sheets of drawings, referring to which i l r Figure 1 is anelevation, partly in section, illustrating a perferrefd form of theimprovement; A Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification; l

Fig. 3 'is an elevation illustrating' how the improvement can be appliedto a duplex pumping system; 7 g v 1 Fig. 4 is a cross sectionalelevation of the parts shown in Fig. 8, the piping being somewhatdifferently arranged for the purpose of illustration; v l 1 I Fig. 5 isa detail of a-restricted connection used in the apparatus shown in Fig.4; Fig. 6 is an illustration of a modified cooling means which can beemployed;

Fig. 7 is an illustration of another modified form of cooling meanswhich may be em ployed; and A Y Fig. '8 is a cross sectional view oftheair or gas pump employed.

"In detail in the drawings, referring first to Fig. 1, M designatesanelectriomotor, which is connected to drive the air or'gas pump N,which is of the well known Nash type, and also a centrifugal water pump0. r The air or gas pump is illustrated in'Fig. 8. The same comprises arotor R arranged in an elliptical casing provided with suitable ports,the pumping actionbeing obtained by the outward throw and inwardcompression of the water in thedisplacement chambers as the rotor isrevolved at high speed.

The returns from the heating system. are led through a pipe and astrainer 11 into the separating tank S. The water of condensation is ledby a pipe 12 to the centrifu- 5 gal pump C, which forces the same backto the boiler. A relief pipe 14 is connected to the top of theseparating tank to prevent the centrifugal water pump from becoming airbound.

The top of the separating tank S is connected by pipes 15 and 15 to theair pump N, the relief pipe 14 being convenientlyconnected to the pipe15. A vacuum relief valve 16 is usually arranged in this piping.

An eduction or escape pipe 17 is extended upwardly from the air pumpNand is carried to some convenient point where the air and gas withdrawnfrom the. system canbe discharged, a forwardly opening check valve 18 iusually being arranged in this piping.

A catch pot or separating chamber 19 is arranged in this piping and thesame is connected by, a pipe 20 to the lobe or casing of the air pump N,a regulating valve 21 being preferably arranged in this piping.

A cooling means is interposed in this piping 20. I This cooling means,as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a pot or cylinder 22 in which is arrangeda cooling coil 23 through which cold water is circulated, whereby as thewater which is separated out inthe pot 19 returns to the pump, the samewill be cooled.

The cooler coil 23 may be arranged in the hot, water supply of thebuilding so that the heat taken away from the cooler pot can beutilized. 7 V r i A water inlet pipe 24 is connected to the catch pot orseparator 19 and the Same is pro-- vided' with a ball-cock valve 25which is designed to open and let in a little cold water from time totime to replace any waste or diminution in the water which is employedin the air or gas pump.

In operation, as a percentage of the water employed in the air or gaspump N is thrown or carried out in the pipe 17 the same is collected inthe catch pot or separator 19, and

as this water is led back to the air or gas pump, the same is cooled bythe coil23. Thus as the, water employed in the air or gas pump is keptat a low temperature relatively to the water inthe return system andseparating tank and thus the advantageous results previous-lyreferred toare obtained,

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the water passing through theairescape pipe 17 from the pump and collected in the separator pot 19 isallowed to pass out through a waste pipe 26 which may be controlled'by aballthe cooler pot 22 through a pipe 260. In

thismodification, it is'not always necessary means for cooling theliquid used in the air cock Valve 27 and fresh water is supplied to" tothe air pumps. In this construction, a coupling 31 is preferablyarranged in the pipe 28 carrying the water to the cooler pot, whichcoupling contains a disc having a small aperture so that the circulationcan be accurately adjusted. j In Fig. 6 I have shown a different coolingmechanism which can be employed which consists of a radiator 33 and anelectrically driven fan 34. V

In Fig. 7 I have shown a still further modification which consists of alarger pipe 35 jacketing the pipe 28, cold water being led into thejacket through a supply pipe 36 and withdrawn therefrom by a pipe 37.

7 By the devices previously described,it will be seen that the wateremployed in the air or gas pump will be kept at a lower temperature thanthe water of condensation. and the efficiency of the pump will thereforebe increased without lowering or reducing the temperature of thecondensate in the separating tank which is to be returned to the boiler.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may begreatlyvaried by a 5 skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of myinvention as expressed in the claims. I

. While I have shown and described the improvement as' appliedparticularly to my specific vacuum steam heating pumping apparatus, itis obvious of course that the same can be applied and used in manyother'forms of pumping apparatus designed and adapted for the specificpurpose stated.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is p 1. In a vacuum steam heating system, thecombination of supply and return lines, a separating tank to which thereturn line is connected, an air or gas pump employing liquid for itspumping action connected to maintain the vacuum in the return line,

126 or gas pump so that the same will act both as a condenser for steamor vapor as well to exhaust the air or gas from the system, .and a waterpump for handling the water of condensation. I 12 2. In a vacuum steamheating apparatus, the combination of a separating tank,-an air orgaspump for establishing and maintaining a vacuum, said pump employingliquid for its pumping action, means for separating the liquid from theexhaust of the air pump, connections for returning this separated liquiddirectly to the'air pump, and a liquid pump for handling the Water ofcondensation.

3. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus, the combination of a separatingtank, an air or gas pump for establishing and maintaining a vacuum, saidpump employing liquid for its pumping action, means for separating theliquid from the exhaust of the air pump, connections for returning thisseparated liquid to the air pump, and means for cooling the liquid as itis returned to the air pump.

4. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus, the combination of a separatingtank, an air or gas pump for establishing and maintain ing a vacuum,said pump employing liquid for its pumping action, means for separatingthe liquid from the exhaust of the air pump, connections for returningthe separated liquid to the air pump, means for cooling the liquid as itis returned to the air pump and means for supplying additional liquid asneeded to the liquid supply for the pump.

5. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus, the combination of a separatingtank, an air or gas pump for establishing and maintaining a vacuum, saidpump employing liquid for its pumping action, means for separating theliquid from the exhaust of the air pump, a cooling device consisting ofa cooler pot and coil to Which the separated liquid is led, and aconnection from the cooler pot back to the air pump.

6. In a vacuum steam heating apparatus,

the combination of a separating tank, a r0- tary air or gas pumpemploying liquid for its pumping action and connected to exhaust the airor gas from the tank, a centrifugal Water pump for returning the Waterof condensation from the tank to the boiler, means for separating theliquid from the exhaust of the air pump, connections for returning thisseparated liquid to the air pump, and means for cooling the separatedliquid as its passes back to the air pump. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

IRVING C. JENNINGS.

